BERGIN’S CHILDREN, AGES 5, 4 AND 2, ARE AVID HELPERS IN THE FAMILY’S GARDENS.
Establishing traditions From a patch of thorny vines in our backyard garden spring forth so many valuable lessons, traditions and opportunities to enrich the lives of our young kids. And so it can be for anyone who starts a home garden with their kids. Gardening can strengthen the bond between parents and children, build memories that long outlast the time it takes to produce a crop and deepen the connection kids have with the natural world. And that’s just the beginning of the tangible and intangible rewards that come from growing fruit and veggies with your children. The value of hard work For me, gardening has always been about the hard work, the sweat, digging my hands into the soil and working with shovels and forks and wheelbarrows. It’s about creating fertile ground and attracting earthworms and bees. And it’s about providing my family with quality food. Add children to the mix and you’ve got a perfect environment for teaching hard work, patience, problem-solving and the importance of making fresh air, nature and nutritious food part of one’s daily routine. My oldest son enjoys explaining the step-by-step process of growing food, from planting a seed to adding compost, watering and eventually nurturing a plant that produces the most flavorful tomatoes. Even more, he’s discovered the pleasure of doing the work, harvesting squash or green beans he’s planted and raised himself (OK, mostly himself!) He’s even felt the urge to grow “his own” garden in a space designated just for kids to plant and experiment. His two younger siblings may not fully grasp all these concepts yet, but they still experience the gratification of planting fast-growing vegetables — like radishes — that sprout before they lose interest.
Reveling in the reward There’s something viscerally rewarding about growing and raising your own food. And kids who take interest in raising a vegetable crop from start to finish are sure to feel it. But even if a child isn’t actively involved throughout the entire process, they can still enjoy gardening if you involve them in steps along the way. Fortunately, even the youngest among us can participate. A 2-year- old can walk along a patch of loose ground scattering lettuce seeds. The steady hand of an older child can plant garlic or green beans with precision. A stronger child can carry a watering can. And a patient youngster can help with weeding and pruning. Even a small child with an appropriately-sized basket can stay occupied with a plant loaded down with ripe cherry tomatoes or sugar snap peas. Homegrown harvest And perhaps the pinnacle of the gardening experience is the time spent after the harvest, in the kitchen. Involving your young gardener in the preparation of the meal is an important part of the gardening process. Even if you just have one or two ingredients from the garden on hand, that homegrown essence is sure to enrich your meal with a deeper connection to the ground outside your door, a better understanding of where food comes from and opportunities to affirm a child for his or her contribution to that meal. Regardless of what you grow or choose to prepare with it in the kitchen, the taste of food grown at home in partnership with your kids is that of pure satisfaction.
METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / JUNE 2020 15
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